Canada Post issues first ever Eid stamp ahead of Ramadan

Canada Post has unveiled its first ever Eid stamp honouring Islam's most important holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, which begins Friday evening.

"I think it's an acknowledgement of Canada's religious diversity," Mohamed Farhad Khadim, director of education at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, toldMetro Morning.

Khadim attended the official unveiling of the stamp at an event organized by Canada Post earlier in the week.

"It is a sense of accomplishment, a sense of belonging," he said of the stamp, which features the French and English words for Eid and Arabic script reading "have a blessed Eid."

Diverse country, diverse stamps

The new stamp is part of an effort by Canada Post to expand its offerings in reflection of Canada's religious diversity.

Canadian post offices have sold Christmas stamps since 1964, but over the course of 2017, Canada Post will offer stamps commemorating Diwali and Hanukkah in addition to the Eid stamp.

"Together the Eid, Diwali and Hanukkah stamps build on the tradition of Christmas stamps and depict our pride in Canada being a land of diverse faiths, customs and celebrations," reads a statement on the Canada Post website.

The stamp may also provide a temporary boost to mail volume.

"Oh definitely we have plans to send a lot of mail this Ramadan," Khadim said of his plans to put the new stamp to use. "I encourage everyone to purchase some of the stamps."